Sheshashayi is a serene village that lies about 27 Kilometers north of Nandgaon. It is situated within the Palwal district in the state of Haryana, India. Here lies the ‘Ksira Sagara Kunda’ which is non different from the milk ocean where Lord Vishnu rests upon His bed of Ananta Sesha. Overseeing the lake is a beautiful temple of Lakshmi Narayana (Sheshashayi Vishnu) where a deity of Lord Vishnu reclining on His bed of Ananta Sesha with Lakshmi devi serving Him, are worshiped. In this temple are also worshiped the deities of Radha-Krishna and Jagannath, Baladeva Subhadra. The place came across as exceedingly simple and transcendent to the chaotic influences of modern civilization. We consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to visit this sacred place and smear its dust all over our bodies.
Bhakti Ratnakara describes that it was here at Ksira Sagara Kunda that Krishna transformed Himself into Narayana and laid down on Balarama, who manifested Himself as Ananta Sesha. Srimati Radharani, in the mood of Lakshmi devi, then messaged Krishna’s lotus feet. In this way, Lord Krishna enacted the pastimes of Vaikuntha here at Sheshashayi.
E Sheshashayi Ksira samudra – ethhate
Kautuke shuila Krishna Ananta sajyate
Sri Radhika pada-padma koroye sevana
Ye ananda haila – taha na haya varnana
(Bhakti Ratnakara)
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Here at Sheshashayi Ksira Kunda, Krishna had once laid down on His bed of Ananta Sesha (Balarama). Sri Radha Rani then messaged Krishna’s lotus feet. It is not possible to describe the overwhelming thrill of the pastime.
Sri Vraja Vilasa Stavavali describes that when Krishna was lying down on Ananta Sesha, Srimati Radharani wanted to hold His soft lotus feet against her chest. But she considered that her hard bosom might hurt Krishna’s soft feet, and thus she refrained.
When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Sheshashayi during His Vraja mandala Parikrama, He was overwhelmed to behold the enchanting beauty of Sheshashayi Krishna. Those who witnessed His ecstatic transformations concluded that He must be the supreme Lord Himself.
Prabhu-teja dekhi bhagyavanta lokagana
Anande unmotto netre dhhara anukshana
Parashpar kahe – e manushya kobhu nahe
Sannyasir besh – e isvara satya haya
(Bhakti Ratnakara)
–
Witnessing the ecstatic transformations and divine characteristics of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (during His visit to Sheshashayi), the people were moved. They also began exhibiting ecstatic symptoms and tears incessantly flowed from their blissful eyes. They conferred that Sri Chaitanya could never be a mere human being. He must be the Supreme Lord Himself in the garb of a renunciant.
Purusha avatars of Vishnu
The Satvata tantra (1.30) states the following – Vishnu has three forms called Purusha. The first of them is ‘Maha-Vishnu’ who creates the total material energy (mahat), the second is Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, who is situated within each universe. The third is Ksirodakasayi Vishnu, who lives in the heart of every living being. One who knows these three becomes liberated from the clutches of Maya (illusion).
#1 Maha Vishnu (Karanodakasayi Vishnu)
Maha Vishnu is the Purusha avatar who originates from Narayana, the Lord of Vaikuntha. Maha Vishnu is the source of the vast expanse of spiritual water known as the Causal ocean (Karana sagar). This is why the causal ocean is also known as ‘Sankarsanatmaka’ as it is created from the body of Sankarsana Maha-Vishnu. Maha Vishnu lies on the causal ocean resting upon the bed of Ananta Sesha.
As He rests on the causal ocean or ‘Karana Sagar’, Maha Vishnu is sometimes also referred to as ‘Karanarnava-sayi Vishnu’. He glances at material nature (Prakriti), thus impregnating her with the seeds of the material universes and the spiritual sparks who populate those universes. Lord Maha-Vishnu then expands Himself into innumerable Garbodakasayi Vishnus in all of these universes.
#2 Garbhodakasayi Vishnu
Garbhodakasayi Vishnu lies within the water of each universe and from His navel sprouts a lotus stem on whose atop sits Brahma, the chief engineer of the universe. The stem of this lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets. When Garbhodakasayi Vishnu first enters a universe, he finds it dark and empty, with no place to reside. He first creates the universal water from the perspiration of His body, which fills half of the universe. He makes His own residence in these waters and thereafter manifests the planetary systems, in the other half of the universe. Within these universal waters, He manifests Vaikuntha, His own abode, and rests on it upon the bed of Ananta Sesha.
#3 Ksirodakasayi Vishnu
Ksirodakasayi Vishnu, the Lord of the ocean of milk, manifests within the heart of every living being in a suitable size. In the case of human beings, His size is that of one pradesa (distance between the tips of a person’s extended thumb and index finger). Ksirodakasayi Visnu is commonly referred to as the Supersoul. Within the ocean of milk, there exists the island of Svetadvipa which is the abode of Ksirodakasayi Vishnu. Ksirodakasayi Vishnu descends to preserve the material world and vanquish principles of irreligion, millennium after millennium. Ksirodakasayi Vishnu is counted both among Purusha and Guna avatars of the Supreme Lord.
Srimad Bhagavatam states the following about Ksirodakasayi Vishnu –
svetadvipa patau cittam suddhe dharma maye mayi
dharayan chvetatam yati sad urmi rahito narah
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.15.18)
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My dear Uddhava, My transcendental form of Vishnu in the island of Svetadvipa is identical with Me in divinity. Anyone who worships this form of Mine (Ksirodakasayi Vishnu) within his heart can surpass the six pangs of material miseries namely hunger, thirst, decay, death, grief, and illusion.
How to Reach Sheshashayi Vishnu temple
Sheshashayi Vishnu temple lies in the village of Sheshashayi, situated near Hodal, in the district of Palwal, Haryana, India. The place is about 27 Kilometers north of Nandgaon and 12 Kilometers north of Kosi Kalan railway station. The place is well connected via roadways and one can park one’s car outside the temple gates.